Protecting interests of religious groups respected in Georgia and Turkey

It is very significant that the standards of protecting the interests of religious groups are equally respected in Georgia and Turkey, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said.

The president made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Tbilisi, Georgia.

"I want to re-emphasize the infrastructure projects that are implemented jointly with the Turkish side. These projects include gas pipelines and a railway. The Tbilisi summit gave additional impetus to these projects," the president said.

"We also highlighted our developing cooperation in economic, cultural and military spheres. We stressed our common view regarding the protection of cultural heritage, as well as religious groups and their rights. It is very significant that these standards are equally respected in Georgia and Turkey," Margvelashvili added.

"Cultural heritage is a very important issue. Our countries have the richest cultural heritage, and its restoration, taking care of it and its preservation is very important for all of us. The religious freedom is also important. It is an integral part of democracy.

Everyone should have the integral right of believing in the God that he has chosen," Gul said.